Timaru N.Z. Club Squash Champion For 3rd Time

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30539, 7 September 1964, Page 3

Timaru N.Z. Club Squash Champion For 3rd Time

(From Our Own Reporter)

AUCKLAND, September 6.

The Timaru club won the Cousins Shield—symbol of national squash rackets inter-club supremacy for the third successive year at the Henderson Courts today.

In a close final, Timaru beat Palmerston North, 3-2, after losing the two top matches to the New Zealand representatives, C. R. Waugh and T. C. Johnston. Waugh beat G. L. Bird in four games after seeming to be in trouble half-way through the fourth. Johnston lost the first game, and very nearly the second to F. N. Coe but then took command. But the Timaru tr-io of J. N. Isaacs, B. J. Rippin and W. A. Green were fitter and more consistent than their counter-parts, and they car-

ried Timaru to another notable success. Sharpe Outclassed Isaacs outclassed R. Sharpe In the final rubber after a thrilling battle between Green and R. B Clarke, two national selectors This match went to five games, but Green lasted better and was much more decisive when the ball was in the air. Rippin, also, was often in difficulties against A. M. Johns, and he won the last two games. 10-8, 10-9. Bird looked fitter than at any stage of this season, and he lasted the 42 minutes well against Waugh but in the end it was an old story—a substantial advantage to Bird In winners, 36 to 23, and a big deficit in total errors, 34 to 16. Bird scored only seven less points in the match, and might have won had he been able to play firmly down the walls on the points that really mattered. Some Loose Rallies Some of the rallies were a little loose and Bird, particularly, played in bursts of brilliance and puzzling lapses. But if they meet, as scheduled, in

the national final the match could reach considerable heights. Bird came from 1-6 down to win the third game, and led 5-1 In the next, but he has promised, so much so often only to disappoint—and this match proved to be no exception Waugh, unlike his opponent, made few mistakes on vital points, and he never forgot his trump card, the ability to keep the ball in play and maintain a rally even when under intense pressure, until Bird erred. Results of the national championship events which began at the week-end were: Junior Boys’ Singles.—Semifinals: B. Tietjens (Remuera) beat H. Broun (Eden-Epsom), 9-5, 9-3, 9-4; D. Cotter (Remuera) beat W. Dearness (Wanganui), 9-4, 9-6, 9-2. Final: Tietjens beat Cotter, 9-1, 9-6, 9-6. Junior Giris' Singles.—Semifinals: Miss D. Burmeister (Palmerston North) beat Miss C. Johnson (Hamilton), 9-5, 10-8, 9-1; Miss P. Kidd (Cambridge) beat Miss C. Fleming (EdenEpsom), 10-8, 9-0, 9-4. Final: Miss Kidd beat Miss Burmeister. 9-0, 10-8, 3-9, 9-3.